reviews
Read holiday reviews by Mountain Kingdoms travellers.
Excellent organisation/backup from administrators/office staff. Small group. Varied itinerary. Good choice of hotels, excursions, etc. which showed that there had been a lot of research into the country/area/places of interest/history. It was certainly an adventure, and with a lot of variety. Thanks again, Mountain Kingdoms, for another amazing trip.
I loved the fact we used local staff, facilities, travelled with locals, met locals etc. We were so lucky to have Nyi Nyi as our guide. He was efficient, helpful and good-humored. He was fantastic, nothing was too much trouble. Brilliantly organised, fantastic friendly local guide, gorgeous people. A truly wonderful experience.
The holiday was an amazing experience - everything we hoped for and more. From the moment we first booked our trip to the end of our trek we were incredibly well looked after both by the Mountain Kingdoms staff and by their partners in Nepal. We trekked to Everest Base Camp over the Christmas period so it was very cold, especially at higher altitudes, but we had free hire of a duvet jacket, 4-season sleeping bag and fleece liner to keep us warm and our trek crew made sure we had hot water bottles and lots of tea and dahl to keep us going. The landscape and views were just incredible. Standing at the top of Kala Pattar on Boxing Day, looking across to Everest and all the surrounding Himalayan peaks, was a very special moment.
An excellent trip to a wonderful country. The first time we had used MK, but organisation, communication and information beforehand was first class. The trip involved a week's trek and a week touring, much of which also involved a good deal of walking. Our guide in Bhutan, Kencho, was excellent, and the quality and quantity of food on the trek was simply outstanding. There are one or two small points that could be attended to, not least the state of the first campsite on the trek at Shana, more closely it resembled a land-fill site. Also, it would have helped if our guide Kencho had spent more time at the rear of the trekking group to ensure any back markers were not left behind (me, twice). Lastly, on the unmade roads in much of the country, a 4x4 would have been a more comfortable option than the Toyota Hiace people carrier used. Apart from that wall to wall blue skies made for a truly memorable experience in magical Bhutan.
Mountain Kingdoms' comment: Thank you for your feedback, we will aim to improve the aspects of the holiday you mention. We are pleased you had a wonderful holiday.
This is a fabulous adventure. It is a long trek visiting remote Upper Dolpo and Mustang. It crosses five 5000 m passes so a real sense of achievement on completing it. We visited remote monasteries and the fabled city of Lo Manthang is fascinating. The Sherpa and crew were professional and food excellent. The itinerary gives plenty of time to acclimatise with a rest day by the side of the beautiful Lake Phoksundo. For me the highlight of the trip was the crossing of the Ghami La at 5700 m. We followed fresh Snow Leopard tracks and saw Wolves in this area. For a true mix of Wilderness and culture this was an outstanding trip and I would recommend it unreservedly.
This is just to say it was a most splendid trip, flawlessly planned and designed and a great delight. Everything worked perfectly and we enjoyed fine weather. The Aeolian Islands were exquisite: Vulcano, wreathed in sulphurous emanations; Salina, green and luxuriant, Lipar; rich in history and glistening with obsidian; Stromboli, rumbling with fire and brimstone and a great night-time ascent followed by Panarea, a most beautiful island of Alma-Tadema-like settings in sun and colour. Etna on the mainland was very impressive. We climbed to the summit at 10,000ft from the Refugio Sapienza which itself was an extremely well-appointed refuge. Catania and Siracusa were both interesting and photogenic. A very fine educational and interesting holiday!
Out of all the many treks I have done in Nepal this is up there with the best. Fantastic variety of scenery, culture and wildlife. We met few other trekkers. The organisation was superb and the crew terrific. Lake Tilicho in the snow was a breathtaking sight - well worth a trip even if you do not continue over the pass. I can highly recommend this trip. Thanks to all.
An amazing and varied itinerary. Each day is so different showcasing all the Arctic has to offer. A must for anyone interested in wildlife, Polar exploration, geology or just looking to experience an extraordinary environment.
An amazing and varied itinerary. Each day is so different showcasing all the Arctic has to offer. A must for anyone interested in wildlife, Polar exploration, geology or just looking to experience an extraordinary environment.
I loved every minute from start to finish, even the slightly bumpy crossing of the Drake Passage, but especially walking through the penguins. I would have stayed watching their hilarious antics for hours.